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People working in European factories take great pride in what they are doing: often these trades are handed down from one generation to another.

This is what makes European pianos so unique: they represent history, art and a very special kind of identity.

It puts into perspective the world we live in in North America and are often made to believe in: there's always the elusive "best" - the all important Nr.1 - next someone else with tag Nr. 2 - Nr.3 - and so on.

Thanks God, pianos are not like football, baseball or ice hockey games.

I had a recent conversation with a Bluthner exec. He made a comment about fine pianos being fine art which only the very fortunate few can afford. I believe that he is right. Many people enjoy the fine art. Only a few are able to afford fine art, and most people enjoy the fine art which the wealthy few donate to museums for the public.

With pianos, again, just a few people are donating money to the fine music halls so the public can enjoy the accomplished pianists performing on wonderful and expensive pianos.

At least with pianos, any good pianists can go to a fine piano store and play and enjoy the very best artistic grands and uprights. So thank you Norbert and Rich for allowing many people to come to your stores and enjoy fine art pianos.

My wife is pressuring me to go to Europe now that it's no longer affordable for just about any American, and she wants Italy so if I can't make it to Wien, maybe I can at least make the Fazioli factory and offices. Although unlike here, you find out that entire countries are mere hours apart so maybe both.

I'd say relegating a Bosey Imperial down to the status of a mere painter's brush is a serious underestimation. Maybe a better analogy would be a play (music) and a theater (piano).

#165977 - 07/02/0808:14 AMRe: Just got back from Vienna... and boy are my arms tired!

Originally posted by TLuvva:I'd say relegating a Bosey Imperial down to the status of a mere painter's brush is a serious underestimation. Maybe a better analogy would be a play (music) and a theater (piano).

Well, I did say, brush, paints and canvas. I don't consider any of these things "mere". However, perhaps your analogy really is better. But if the pianist ( actor ) is performing music ( a play ) on a piano ( theater? ) in a concert hall....err....isn't the concert hall the theater?

Any interesting anecdotes you would like to share about the costs associated with travel to Europe these days?

Furt,

I have made European trips before, and in the past, things were cheaper.... WAY cheaper. Also, back in the '80s and even into the '90s, folks in other countries sometimes seemed willing to accept American dollars. In Greece they preferred them. This time around though, when I ran short of Euros once and offered American tender, they said,"Haben Sie eine Visa Kreditkarte?"

Unfortunately, I have a Visa... and now a bigger bill than I had planned on.

Great Picutres, I am sure you know that you did not need to walk up the 400 steps in St., Stephens, on the other side of the church is a lift that will have you on the roof in seconds, )), just behind the church on the left hand is a MKozart house complete with lots of letters etc., written by the man and also again at the rear of the church in a little street just off to the right is another Mozart house where they hold nightly concerts in the same room that the great man performed himself, the acoustics in that room are AWESOME. it is the oldest concert hall in Vienna, The Sala terrena with its beautiful vault was designed and painted in the second half of the Eighteenth century in late renaissance. Noel